Gossip earned a loyal following on both sides of the Atlantic for their potent mix of punk urgency and dance beats, anchored by singer Beth Ditto's blues wail. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest by way of Arkansas, the trio initially hewed toward the lo-fi garage punk that had overtaken the indie scene in the early '00s. But Gossip soon expanded their sound to include elements of dance, soul, and disco, which won over critics and listeners worldwide. UK audiences embraced the band as stars, while stateside fans knew Ditto as a passionate advocate of LGBT causes.